A group of science advisors to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
will review the agency's ongoing and future science and research
programs when the 14-member panel meets March 19-21 in Washington,
D.C. NOAA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"The various arms of NOAA
conduct reviews of their own programs, but the Science
Advisory Board really takes a big-picture view to ensure
they are of the highest quality," said Dr. Michael Uhart,
Science Advisory Board executive director.

Open to the public, the meetings
are from 1 to 5:30 p.m. on March 19; from 8 am to 5:15 p.m.
March 20; and from 8 am to noon March 21. The board will meet
at the St. Gregory Hotel and Suites, 2033 M Street, NW, in Washington,
D.C. The public can present brief, written or oral statements
during the afternoon sessions March 19-20.

In addition to the program reviews,
the board will also discuss NOAA climate research, homeland security,
NOAA education partnership programs, the National
Weather Service requirements-setting process, and other science
policy issues.

The Science Advisory Board is
the only federal advisory committee with responsibility to advise
the NOAA administrator, who is also the under secretary of commerce
for oceans and atmosphere, on long and short-range strategies
for research, education and the application of science to resource
management. Members of the board are eminent scientists, engineers,
resource managers and educators appointed to serve a three to
five year term. The next meeting is scheduled for July 9-11 in
Boulder, Colo.

The Commerce Department's National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is dedicated to enhancing
economic security and national safety through the prediction
and research of weather and climate-related events and providing
environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine
resources. To learn more about NOAA, visit: http://www.noaa.gov.
For more information on the Science Advisory Board visit: http://www.sab.noaa.gov.